Opening words by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen at the inauguration of the consulate general in St Petersburg on 24 November 2004

Presidential envoy Klebanov,
Governor Matvienko,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

This is an important day for relations between Finland and St Petersburg and Russia in general. It realizes our long-term dream of creating a good framework for representation in our important neighbouring city, the metropolis of the Baltic.

It also gives us a Finnish cultural centre in St Petersburg, a city that we can largely thank for the golden age of our national culture in the late 19th century. Today in return we are opening a permanent exhibition of contemporary Finnish art for the people of St Petersburg in this building.

I have been involved in this consulate general project from the start and have followed it closely as Minister for Foreign Affairs and then as President of the Republic. When we started out in 1995 the Finnish state economy was still in great difficulties, and it wasn't easy to get funding for such an ambitious plan. Fortunately the far-reaching significance of this project was understood and we were able to find this excellent location.

I warmly thank the Russian authorities for their cooperation during this project. I have mentioned this to President Putin, most recently one week ago. President Putin understands the significance of this building to Finland's neighbouring area cooperation with Russia. This cooperation, as well as other cooperation between the EU and Russia, should be further developed. My best thanks to the City of St Petersburg and to the Russian Foreign Ministry for their indispensable help and contribution.

I believe that the excellent facilities in this new consulate general will make it easier for thousands of Russians to take care of the formalities that are necessary to travel to Finland and the European Union and to take care of economic and other cooperation. The new consulate general will also open a window for our neighbours on Finnish society and culture. I hope that this building will be a lively new meeting place for Finns and the people of St Petersburg.

With these words I inaugurate Finland's consulate general in St Petersburg and also open the exhibition of Finnish contemporary art.